About Me

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SW London
A semi-mature, hardy individual who tries to get away with doing as little as possible in gardening as in life, still expects the best results & wonders why she is frequently disappointed! She likes to keep a photographic record of everything, good & frequently bad!

Thursday 4 November 2010

Arboreta, who needs ‘em.

Autumn in the city…..

DSCN1521It is a fantastic year for autumn colour; it’s all about the right combination of sun & frosts at the right time of the year. People are dashing off to arboretums*, woods & tree filled gardens to see the glorious colours. But hang on, even in the middle of the city they are there right in front of your nose…..or possibly feet.

I thought I would capture some of my local colour before it all disappeared in a puff of wind.

We have an enormous variety of street trees here; I once spoke to the council tree man who said they had been given a ‘job lot’ some years previously.

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There are lots of older trees, including the London Plane, which get pollarded every year & can look rather odd…

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Trees more recently planted are usually some sort of Rowan whilst  Amelanchier are also quite popular. The Magnolia stellata below is brilliant in spring but turning rather nicely here.

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The peach, yes, you read it correctly, the peach is not looking too good!

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The Gingko is rather odd as a street tree with its right-angled branches, but we have several. The butter yellow leaves look almost good enough to eat, but most are on the pavement!

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Image1017Addendum: this one in a nearby street has more leaves!

I have saved my favourite tree until the end. It is quite truly stunning.

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DSCN1534 This tree positively glows at the end of the road. I hope you agree; small yet perfectly formed.

Actually, not quite the last because I am sure you are wondering how my own (1 tree) woodland is looking…DSCN1511 ….I am considering re-designating it as an arboretum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*the plural of arboretum can be either arboreta or arboretums.